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OK. So tonight I did my 16th livestream benefit for independent venues - this time for @boomleedsvenue. They are generally a ton of fun, and this was no different, but there was, uh, an incident.
I generally try not to bring too much politics into the shows, they're an escape during lockdown. But it's not really controversial to think that Wednesday's change is big news, and pretty obviously good news.
So I made passing reference to that, said "Fuck Trump" or something, and made a joke about Qanon. Because it's obviously fucking laughable. And then moved on with the set, all requests in the chat, great fun.
I don't read the chat as I go, I'm playing, but my brilliant wife @JessGuise keeps an eye (for the requests). A little while later, we experienced something of a minor invasion.
I only found out the details after, but essentially: a whole bunch of racist fucking twats joined the stream and started posting. Apparently many were from a (no joke) Yorkshire white power group. Excuse me... ahem... HAHAHAHA.
Morons. As I say, I wasn't fully aware of this, kept playing, but it was clearly unacceptable and pretty upsetting for a lot of people. Jess told me what was going on, I was a bit unsettled, told em to get fucked, kept playing. AND THEN...
Everyone just flooded the chat with hearts. It was magic. Drowned out the hate.
I played my anti-racist tune ("Make America great again.. by making racists ashamed again"). Finished the show. Fuck those people, and thanks to everyone actually watching the show for jumping on the dickheads.
Let me also say: if your version of "political action" involves shitposting the charity livestream of a minor league English songwriter... you're doing it wrong. You sad, sad cunts.
But the real upshots of this are: positivity won through. And the fundraiser for @boomleedsvenue smashed it, and it's still open, so donate if you can.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/frank-turner-boom
/fin
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/frank-turner-boom
/fin
